Denver Broncos / NFL

Broncos keep Tebow under wraps until late rally

Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow is sacked by Dolphins defensive end Randy Starks, one of seven sacks by the Miami defense, to end Denver's first possession in overtime. The Broncos' second possession resulted in Matt Prater's winning 52-yard field goal. (Joe Amon, THe Denver Post)

MIAMI — The Broncos didn't break the glass until it was an emergency.

After bubble-wrapping quarterback Tim Tebow in a run-heavy game plan most of the afternoon, the Broncos didn't deviate from the plan until they had no choice, trailing by 15 points late. With the remarkable comeback, the Broncos became the first team since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970 to win a game in which it trailed by at least 15 points with less than three minutes left.

"Don't think about nothing, just go," Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas said. "That's when (Tebow) is at his best. Just go."

While that strategy worked against a winless team in front of a crowd packed with pro-Tebow/Florida Gators supporters, that balance on offense is something Broncos coaches must consider as they move forward with Tebow as their quarterback.

Coach John Fox showed almost no intention to let Tebow throw until the game appeared all but out of reach. Tebow threw only eight passes in the first three quarters, although some called pass plays resulted in scrambles or sacks. He threw 19 passes in the fourth quarter, when there was no other choice.

So, consider the search for balance still on as the Broncos continue to figure out what they want Tebow to do, or not do, in the weeks ahead.

What went right

A two-touchdown comeback in the final minutes is as good as it gets.

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Tebow was in his comfort zone when the Broncos had to put him in the shotgun in a three-wide receiver set after the Dolphins took a 15-0 lead with 7:34 to play. He had only three completions in the team's first 11 possessions. He had 10 in the last four possessions of the game, including a diving catch by Thomas for the Broncos' first touchdown and a diving catch by tight end Daniel Fells to set up the second.

The Broncos were able to run to keep pace with the game plan, finishing with a season-best 183 yards rushing, with Tebow contributing 65. That philosophy, however, netted them zero points until they opened up the offense late.

Fox made no apologies for the run-first approach. The Broncos used almost as many two-back or two-tight end formations (19 times) until the Dolphins took that 15-0 lead as they had three-wide receiver looks (21 times).

"We were running the ball pretty effectively," Fox said. "I don't know if you were watching the game the same way I did. We just missed some field goals."

What went wrong

While the comeback will bring out calls to simply let Tebow be Tebow, the issue always will be just how much punishment the Broncos want Tebow to take.

After all, the Dolphins came into the game 26th overall in defense, 29th against the pass and 29th in sacks. Miami still sacked Tebow an alarming seven times. All the sacks came when the Broncos were in a three-wide receiver set, which is designed to give Tebow the best chance to get comfortable in the passing game.

"We just didn't finish the game," said Dolphins defensive end Cameron Wake, who made two sacks.

So, the Broncos have the issue of putting Tebow in his favorite look on offense although it is clearly the easiest one for the defense to reel him in. Add together eight rushing attempts, the seven sacks and several hits in the pocket when he threw, and no quarterback is looking at an extended stay in the offense taking that kind of pounding.

Up next

The Lions (5-2) have a defense looking to punish quarterbacks. In a loss to Atlanta on Sunday, Detroit made three sacks against a Falcons offense that ran the ball 31 times.

With defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh routinely tying up a bevy of blockers and caving in the middle of the offensive formation, the Lions have a difficult defensive front to block. They consistently get pressure on the quarterback.

Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham is aggressive and likely will force the issue at the line of scrimmage against Tebow.

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